New York Islanders Extend Depth Defenceman

Islanders Extend Tony DeAngelo

After spending the beginning of the season in Russia, the Sewell, New Jersey native joined the Islanders shortly before the trade deadline on a one-year contract. While he still split time in his most comfortable positions, he was someone the Islanders depended on in their push for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Ultimately, they came up short, but that wasn’t for a lack of effort on DeAngelo’s part. His late-season offensive production was a significant contributor to the push Patrick Roy‘s team made.

Now, he has a job lined up for next year. That’s a player who played his way into the plans of an organization. Even with new Isles general manager Mathieu Darche, DeAngelo was impressive enough to retain his spot in the organization. What that means for where he plays is yet to be determined, but it’ll be a new challenge for DeAngelo.

What This Means for the Islanders

Now, the Islanders are continuing to try and add. They want to improve. Trading Noah Dobson away may not seem like they want to, but they will look to make their team better. DeAngelo’s deal means they have bolstered the supporting cast more. They now need to add to the core. That’ll be something Darch looks at as we get deeper into the new 2025-26 season, which officially began today.

There is some risk associated with this deal for the Islanders due to the off-ice issues DeAngelo has faced in the past. It’s not a matter of sobriety but rather his arguments within his team. He was kicked off the New York Rangers for instigating a fight with Alexandar Georgiev. He’s also got a reputation for his views off the ice, which fans may not like. There is an element of chaos possible with DeAngelo, but if he can play well on the ice, this is a great deal.

What Does It Mean for the UFA Market?

With every passing signing, a thin UFA class gets thinner. With DeAngelo extended, there is another potential right-handed defenseman off the board. Teams with a need will be looking to the trade market. It may mean that we see an increase in bidding for those remaining. In such a thin crop, the Islanders manage to retain one of the better options. In terms of ceiling, DeAngelo was likely the best available coming into the day.

Otherwise, there will be debates to be had among teams. With the remaining unrestricted free agents, there isn’t much in the way of significant contribution. There’s no game-breaking talent. DeAngelo has flashes of it when he reminds you why he was a first-round pick. Now, it’s depth defenders that the teams have left, and they will be scrambling. It should make for some chaos in the trade market.